Original subtitles

>> MAGIC REMINDS US THAT THE

WORLD, THE UNIVERSE, IS A HUGE,

CAPITAL "M" MYSTERY.

>> IT'S SOMETHING UNEXPLAINABLE.

BUT IT IS A SPECIFIC STATE OF

MIND THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR--

YOU KNOW, YOUR WORLDVIEW IS--IS

SHATTERED FOR A SECOND.

>> MAGIC IS JUST ONE OF THOSE

THINGS WHICH PEOPLE--IT'S GOT

MANY, MANY LEVELS.

ON A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL AND A

MORE DEEPER, IN FACT, IT IS

CHANGING LIVES.

WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THE

IMPOSSIBLE, THERE ARE NO

OBSTACLES IN YOUR LIFE ANYMORE.

[all cheering]

>> I THINK ONE OF THE EXCITING

THINGS ABOUT GETTING INTO MAGIC

AS A TEENAGER IS IT IS THIS

WONDERFUL CHANCE TO REALLY

EXPLORE WHO YOU ARE AT A PERIOD

OF TIME WHERE THAT IS STILL VERY

MUCH BEING FORMED.

>> WHAT DRAWS MANY KIDS INTO

MAGIC IS ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN

DO SOMETHING THAT NOBODY ELSE

CAN.

MAYBE YOU'RE NOT GOOD AT SPORTS.

MAYBE YOU'RE NOT GOOD WITH OTHER

ASPECTS OF SCHOOL.

BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KIND OF

HAVE THIS ESOTERIC POWER TO

ENCHANT PEOPLE.

>> I FOUND SOMETHING THAT CAME

NATURALLY TO ME, CAME EASY TO

ME, BLEW PEOPLE AWAY, MADE A

LASTING IMPRESSION, MADE PEOPLE

WANT TO TALK TO ME, MADE PEOPLE

LIKE ME.

>> I AM SO INTO LOGIC AND ORDER

AND FIGURING OUT THE WAY

EVERYTHING WORKS AND THEN, WHEN

I FINALLY ENCOUNTER SOMETHING

WHERE THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY,

HOW CAN YOU AVOID BEING

FASCINATED BY THAT?

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> IT'S A GOOD ESCAPE TO BE

ABLE TO JUST GO INTO A ROOM AND

PRACTICE FOR SO LONG AND DO

SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY LOVE

TO DO.

>> YEAH, I COULD USE IT

ANYWHERE.

YEAH, THE WAY OF SOCIALIZING

WITH PEOPLE, HOW TO TALK WITH

PEOPLE, HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS, HOW

TO COMMUNICATE.

>> MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL

DOING...

WITH MAGIC--TRYING TO FIND WHO

WE ARE AS A PERSON.

MAYBE WE CAN DO THAT WITH MAGIC

BY FINDING OUT WHO WE WANT TO

BE.

>> THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR

STARTED WELL OVER 30 YEARS AGO,

MAYBE 35 YEARS AGO.

AND IT STARTED JUST AS A SMALL

GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND IT BECAME

A COMMUNITY THAT, BECAUSE OF ALL

THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE KIND OF

NURTURING THE SEED, IT GREW AND

GREW.

>> THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR IN

LAS VEGAS IS SPECIFICALLY

INTERESTING AND SIGNIFICANT IN

THAT THEY HAVE A TEEN EVENT,

WHICH ATTRACTS TEENAGE

PERFORMERS FROM AROUND THE

WORLD.

>> DEFINITELY THE ULTIMATE EVENT

ON THE MAGIC CALENDAR.

YOU ASK ANY MAGICIAN THROUGHOUT

THE WORLD IF THERE'S ONE EVENT

THAT THEY WANT TO ATTEND OR

PARTICIPATE IN, IT'S

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR.

>> OH, YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY

THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS

COMPETITION IN THE WORLD.

>> AND IT'S THE CLOSEST

EQUIVALENT THAT YOU CAN GET OF

THE MAGIC OLYMPICS AS IT WERE

BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE

PERFORMING AGAINST EACH OTHER,

AND LAS VEGAS IS ONE OF THOSE

CITIES WHERE EVERYTHING ABOUT

IT IS MAGICAL.

>> WHEN YOU'RE A YOUNG

MAGICIAN--I MEAN, I REMEMBER

BACK WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER AND

STARTED ATTENDING MAGIC

CONVENTIONS, AND I WAS VERY

INTERESTED IN THE COMPETITION.

>> WELL, LOOK AT LANCE BURTON.

LANCE WON REAL BIG AT ALL OF

'EM, AND IF HE HADN'T HAVE WON

BIG, HE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT TO

VEGAS.

>> YOU KNOW, LANCE BURTON WAS

PART OF THE MAGIC SEMINAR, BUT

REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING

TO REALLY HELP THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO WE DECIDED TO DO A TEEN

CONTEST.

>> THE TEENS NEED TO SUBMIT A

VIDEOTAPE.

THEY NEED TO BE APPROVED AND

BE ONE OF ONLY THE HANDFUL THAT

ARE EVEN ALLOWED TO COMPETE AT

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR.

SO, REALLY, IT'S AN HONOR FOR

THEM TO EVEN BE ABLE TO

PARTICIPATE.

>> WELL, FROM A GLOBAL BASIS,

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR IS A

PLATFORM SHOWCASE, SO THEY

LITERALLY ARE GETTING THE BEST

OF THE BEST FROM AROUND THE

WORLD.

AND YOU DO WELL AT

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR, YOUR

CAREER CAN CATAPULT, AND

SUDDENLY YOU'RE ON THE WORLD

STAGE.

>> AND IF YOU WEREN'T COMPETING

AGAINST THE BEST, THEN YOU

WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STAND THERE

AND SAY, "I AM THE BEST IN THE

WORLD."

>> YOU KNOW, WE USED TO JUST

HAVE KIDS FROM AMERICA.

NOW THEY'RE COMING FROM EUROPE.

THEY'RE COMING FROM ASIA.

WE HAD A HUGE CONTINGENT FROM

SOUTH AFRICA.

IT'S REALLY--IT AMAZES ME

HOW DIVERSE THE BACKGROUNDS OF

THE KIDS ARE.

>> I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE

BEST IN THE WORLD--THE BEST

TEENS, THE BEST MAGICIANS.

YOU'RE GONNA SEE JEFF MCBRIDE,

EUGENE BURGER, LANCE BURTON,

CRISS ANGEL, JOHNNY THOMPSON.

THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE PEOPLE

LIKE KRYSTYN LAMBERT, BILL KOCH,

AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE, SO YOU'RE

LEARNING FROM THE BEST, AND

YOU'RE WITH THE BEST PEOPLE IN

THE BUSINESS.

>> SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE

THEM HERE AND BRINGING ALL THESE

YOUNG PEOPLE IN AND SHOWCASING

THEIR TALENT, BECAUSE THEY'RE

THE STARS OF TOMORROW.

[applause]

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN

MAGIC SINCE I WAS REALLY LITTLE,

I THINK, LIKE, THREE OR FOUR OR

SO.

WE WENT TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS,

MY MOTHER AND I, AND THERE WAS A

WHITE-FACE MIME THERE WHO

STARTED DOING MISER'S DREAM,

PULLING QUARTERS OUT OF MY EAR,

AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS THE

COOLEST THING.

THAT'S WHEN I REALLY FELL IN

LOVE WITH MAGIC.

THAT'S WHEN I REALLY REALIZED,

"OH, MY GOSH, THIS IS FOR ME."

[applause]

>> KRYSTYN IS ABSOLUTELY

SENSATIONAL.

IN '07, SHE WON THE AWARD AS

UP-AND-COMING YOUNG MAGICIAN.

THIS YEAR SHE DID

MASTERS OF ILLUSION WITH AN

ACT.

WE LOVINGLY REFER TO HER AS OUR

MALIBU BARBIE.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF CO-2 FOR ME.

THE RUBBER BANDS MAGICALLY MELT

APART.

>> WOW! YAY!

>> SHE'S A WITCH.

>> I THINK THAT SHE ENJOYS

POPULARITY WITH THE CROWD OF

MAGICIANS 'CAUSE THEY GET HER,

AND THEY'RE A LITTLE OFFBEAT

THEMSELVES, BUT AT SCHOOL,

ALTHOUGH PEOPLE CLAP AND SMILE

AND THINK IT'S CUTE, I THINK A

LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET HER.

>> SHE'S KIND OF A PRINCIPAL'S

DREAM.

SHE'S A STUDENT LEADER, A

STUDENT WHO GETS THINGS DONE,

ORGANIZES OTHER KIDS.

[indistinct chatter]

>> YEAH, AND ALL WHO ABSTAIN?

IT HAS BEEN PASSED.

>> BOO!

>> IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, BRING

IT UP DURING THE DISCUSSION

PERIOD.

>> NO.

[laughter]

>> THAT HAPPENS BEFORE WE VOTE.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.

>> SHE'S VERY SPIRITED, SO SHE

HELPS KEEP US, LIKE, VERY, LIKE,

INTO SCHOOL, AND, YOU KNOW,

SHE'S VERY CONSTITUTIONAL, SO

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DONE

PERFECTLY AND, YEAH, LIKE, DOWN

TO, LIKE, THE BASIC LIMITS.

LIKE, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DONE

PERFECT.

>> SO I SHELVE BOOKS.

I GET TO TAKE CARE OF THIS

SECTION HERE.

I DEAL WITH PHILOSOPHICAL TEXTS,

RELIGIOUS TEXTS IN THIS SECTION.

I...

THAT'S NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> I THINK HIGH ACHIEVERS ARE

VERY MUCH ABOUT CONTROL...

AS A RULE.

I THINK THEY'RE TRYING HARD TO

CONTROL, AND THEY DO THAT

THROUGH ACHIEVEMENT.

LIKE, ACHIEVEMENT IS PART OF THE

COGNITIVE WHEEL OF CONTROL.

I THINK IT'S--I THINK THEY'RE

PART AND PARCEL.

KRYSTYN, REMEMBER THE TIME YOU

CALLED ME INTO YOUR ROOM--YOU

WERE PROBABLY FOUR AT THAT

POINT, BECAUSE WE WERE AT

DUME DRIVE--AND YOU ASKED ME

SINCERELY IF YOU WERE FROM

ANOTHER PLANET.

>> OH, YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT.

>> 'CAUSE YOU THOUGHT--'CAUSE

YOU KNEW YOU WEREN'T LIKE

ANYBODY ELSE OR--YEAH.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS--THAT WAS,

LIKE--I WAS REALLY, LIKE,

DEPRESSED AT THAT POINT.

LIKE, I REMEMBER BEING ON THE

VERGE OF TEARS, LIKE, THINKING

THERE'S SOMETHING--WELL, NOW--

THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY WRONG.

LIKE, IT JUST DOESN'T MATCH UP,

'CAUSE I CAN'T--YOU KNOW, I'M

NOT--

IT JUST--THERE'S--

SOMETHING'S JUST DIFFERENT.

AND I WAS REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT

THAT WITH YOU.

I REMEMBER.

>> THE MAGIC COMMUNITY AND

KRYSTYN IS A MATCH MADE IN

HEAVEN, BECAUSE SHE LIKES TO

THINK ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT

LEVELS, AND IN MAGIC, YOU

NECESSARILY HAVE TO DO THAT,

AND AT THE RISK OF OFFENDING

SOMEBODY, AND I DON'T WANT TO DO

THAT, BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S

A LITTLE WORLD OF ODDBALLS IN

A SENSE, AND KRYSTYN--SHE'S ONE

OF 'EM.

>> I HONESTLY DO BELIEVE THAT

KRYSTYN COULD BE THE GREATEST

LADY MAGICIAN THAT EVER LIVED,

AND I THINK SHE COULD BE THE

GREATEST--THE GREATEST MAGICIAN

THAT EVER LIVED.

>> BEFORE MAGIC, I WAS SHY.

I COULD NOT GO UP ONSTAGE.

I COULDN'T TALK TO ANYBODY.

I COULD NOT TALK TO MY TEACHERS.

I COULD NOT TALK TO ANYBODY BUT

MY MOM AND MY BROTHERS AND MY

FRIENDS, MY CLOSE FRIENDS, SO

IT WAS PRETTY BAD.

BUT MAGIC'S REALLY GOTTEN ME OUT

OF THAT.

>> HE JUST LOVES THE MAGIC.

HE LOVES THE PEOPLE.

HE LOVES THE SHOW.

HE LOVES THE--THE MAGIC OF IT.

>> I READ.

I WATCH MAGIC TELEVISION.

I DON'T WATCH NORMAL TELEVISION.

I JUST WATCH MY, LIKE, MAGIC'S

BIGGEST SECRETS REVEALED,

MASTERS OF ILLUSION.

>> HE DOESN'T HAVE A REAL TIGHT

GROUP OF FRIENDS, JUST BECAUSE

INSTEAD OF JUST GOOFING OFF,

HE'D RATHER GO STUDY HIS MAGIC,

OR HE'D RATHER GO DO SOMETHING

PRODUCTIVE.

HE THINKS IT'S WASTED TIME.

>> I HAVE NOBODY TO TALK TO MY

AGE ABOUT MAGIC.

>> HE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A--

SOMEBODY WITH MAGIC INTEREST

THAT HE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH,

YOU KNOW, THAT LIVED CLOSE OR

SOMEBODY THAT HE COULD MEET UP

WITH.

>> IT'S HARD, BUT I STILL--

I HAVE GREAT MENTORS, AND I'VE

GOT PEOPLE I CAN DEPEND ON TO

HELP ME WITH THIS.

>> I'VE KNOWN DEREK NOW NEARLY

THREE YEARS.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, IN THAT TIME

PERIOD, WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW

EACH OTHER VERY WELL.

I MEAN, HE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY

YOUNG MAN.

HE REALLY IS.

DON'T LET HIM HEAR THIS, BECAUSE

I KNOW HIS HEAD'LL JUST SWELL.

>> YOU HAD HIM IN THIS CLASS,

YOU KNOW, ON SUNDAYS, AND YOU'D

SHOW HIM ONE THING, AND THE NEXT

WEEK HE'D COME BACK, AND HE'D

HAVE THIS WHOLE THING ALL

ROUTINED OUT--YOU KNOW, LITTLE

STORY LINES FIGURED OUT.

THAT'S--THAT'S NOT NORMAL.

>> THIS IS MY MAIN PRACTICE

ROOM.

I'VE GOT THE TABLE OF DOOM WITH

EVERYTHING THAT I OWN THAT'S--

I'M WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

UM, YEAH, THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE

TABLE.

I PRACTICE FIVE HOURS A DAY FOR

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

AND I DO MY HOMEWORK FIRST, AND

THEN WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH

THAT, I GO INTO MY LITTLE

REHEARSAL SPACE, AND IT DOESN'T

MATTER IF I FINISH MY HOMEWORK

AT 8:00 P.M. OR 2:00 P.M.,

I AM THERE FOR FIVE HOURS, IF

NOT LONGER.

>> [giggles]

>> WE KNOW ALL OF HIS TRICKS,

'CAUSE WE SEE HIM DOING THEM

ALL THE TIME.

SO IT GETS PRETTY ANNOYING.

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN DO THE MOST

IMPRESSIVE TRICKS EVER, NOT

REALLY, BUT I CAN TAKE--I KEEP A

DECK OF CARDS IN MY POCKET AT

ALL TIMES.

IF YOU SEE ME WITHOUT A DECK OF

CARDS OR TWO, THEN THERE'S

SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME TODAY.

EVERYTHING I WATCH, EVERYTHING

I HEAR, I TRY TO THINK OF A WAY

I CAN MAKE A MAGIC ACT FROM IT.

I MEAN, WITH MAGIC, YOU CAN

PLEASE A THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY,

WHICH IF YOU DO THAT FOR

EVEN A YEAR, YOU'LL PLEASE A

MILLION PEOPLE--TOUCHED 'EM.

TO GO TO A PLACE LIKE VEGAS IS

HEAVEN.

I MEAN, THERE ARE 40 OF THE BEST

TEEN MAGICIANS IN THE WORLD,

AND YOU CAN JUST HANG OUT AND

JAM WITH THEM, AND IT'S JUST

HEAVEN.

IT'S AMAZING.

[birds chirping]

>> [speaking Japanese]

[water splashes]

[laughs]

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> THIS IS ME IN LOVE.

"I WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL

BASEBALL PLAYER."

[laughs]

UH...

I WANT TO BE A...

STAR MAGICIAN.

I WANT TO PERFORM ALL AROUND THE

WORLD.

KRYSTYN LOOKS GORGEOUS.

>> EVERYONE'S GOT THEIR OWN

FAVORITE SONG.

I'D HAVE TO SAY MINE IS...

[Scott Joplin's The Entertainer]

? ?

I AM WILLIAM M. KOCH.

I AM WILLIAM MICHAEL.

MY DAD'S WILLIAM STANLEY.

UM...

I'M NOT A "JUNIOR."

BUT...

PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED WHEN THEY

CALL HERE TO ASK FOR BIG BILL OR

LITTLE BILL.

I'M LITTLE BILL.

>> HE LIKED TO IMITATE HIS DAD.

HE LIKED TO--WHAT HE WOULD CALL

IT, INSTEAD OF CONDUCTING, WHEN

HE WAS LITTLE, HE'D SAY, "OH,

I'M DUCKING JUST LIKE POPPY."

[soft orchestral music]

? ?

HE WAS ABOUT THREE, SO HE WAS

STANDING ON MY LAP.

AND HE WAS CONDUCTING TO

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

ALL HE SEES IS HIS DRUMMERS AND

OTHER KIDS IN THE BAND, LIKE,

LAUGHING AND GIGGLING, AND HE'S

STARTING TO GET UPSET, AND HE'S

THINKING TO HIMSELF, "I'M JUST

GONNA KILL THEM.

I'M GONNA KILL THEM."

AND HE FINISHES THE SONG, AND

ALL THE WHILE, BILLY'S STANDING

ON MY LAP CONDUCTING.

HE TURNS AROUND TO THE AUDIENCE

TO TAKE A BOW, AND BILLY IS ON

MY LAP, AND HE TURNS AROUND AND

HE BOWS, AND THAT'S WHEN HE

REALIZED THAT THE LITTLE DARLIN'

WAS DOING THAT WHOLE--THE WHOLE

TIME HE WAS CONDUCTING WITH THE

BAND, SO...

>> IT WAS CUTE ONCE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME.

"IT WAS CUTE ONCE.

DON'T EVER LET HIM DO IT AGAIN."

>> IT WASN'T ABOUT THE FACT

HE UPSTAGED ME.

HE UPSTAGED THE BAND.

THIS IS--THIS IS THE OTHER HOUSE

THAT BILLY GREW UP IN.

>> THIS IS MY HOME.

LOVE THIS PLACE.

THE FIRST RUN-THROUGH OF MY ACT,

I BOMBED RIGHT HERE.

IN FRONT OF A CROWD FULL OF

TEENAGE THEATER KIDS,

I BOMBED MY ACT.

RIGHT UNDERNEATH THIS CURTAIN.

EVERYTHING THAT COULD HAVE GONE

WRONG DIDN'T JUST GO WRONG, IT

FAILED, IT BURNED TO THE GROUND

AND EXPLODED IN A MASS OF

CATACLYSMIC HELL.

>> YEAH, WE LEARN MORE FROM OUR

FAILURE THAN WE DO FROM SUCCESS.

>> THANKS, DAD.

>> EXCELLENCE ALL AROUND HIM HIS

WHOLE LIFE.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY HE'S BEEN

GROOMED FOR SUCCESS, BUT, YOU

KNOW, HE'S BEEN EXPOSED TO

WORLD-CLASS EVENTS, WORLD-CLASS

EDUCATIONS HIS WHOLE LIFE.

AND OF COURSE HE DIDN'T KNOW IT.

YOU KNOW, HE JUST WENT ALONG,

'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE DAD WAS

GOING.

>> I HEARD MY DAD SAY IT ONCE.

AND IT'S JUST STUCK WITH ME.

"THE GOAL IS EXCELLENCE, NOTHING

LESS."

THE STAGE WAS HERE.

ALL THE COMPETITORS WAIT OVER

IN THIS AREA.

FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS,

THEY'VE HELD THE

CHICAGO MAGIC COMPETITION HERE.

AND I WAS THE FIRST-PLACE WINNER

AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD WINNER

THIS YEAR.

I WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN THE

HISTORY OF THE COMPETITION TO

WIN BOTH, FIRST PLACE AND

PEOPLE'S CHOICE.

I WAS THE YOUNGEST COMPETITOR

THIS YEAR, SO I KNOCKED OUT

THE OTHER SIX COMPETITORS AND

WON FIRST PLACE.

>> BILLY CAME OUT, AND HE HAD A

STRONG PROGRAM, AND HE EXECUTED

IT FLAWLESSLY.

HE HAD A SHOW THAT HE KNEW WOULD

PLAY REAL WELL THERE.

AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF OTHER

PEOPLE THAT I WAS LIKE...

>> OH, HE'S GOT SOME STIFF

COMPETITION.

>> YOU KNOW, BUT EACH ONE OF

THEM HAD SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T

PLAY WELL.

THAT WAS LIKE, EH, CHINK IN THE

ARMOR.

>> AND HE JUST BLEW EVERYBODY

AWAY.

>> I'M ON TOP. YES.

THAT WAS REALLY--THE FIRST

FEELING OFF THE BAT WAS, YOU

KNOW, I'M NOT SECOND, I'M FIRST.

AND THEN WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED

PEOPLE'S CHOICE, IT'S LIKE, "OH,

DEAR GOD.

I'M FIRST TWICE."

TO BE THE BEST IN A CITY LIKE

CHICAGO, I'M UP THERE WITH

GREATS LIKE MICHAEL JORDAN,

WALTER PAYTON...

BILL KOCH.

I KNOW, IN MY EYES, IF I'M

COMPETING AGAINST INTERNATIONAL

CONTESTANTS, IT MAKES ME WANT

TO WORK HARDER, BECAUSE I WANT

TO IMPRESS UPON THE OTHER

PERFORMERS AND THE OTHER

COMPETITORS THAT I'M ACTUALLY

GOOD AT WHAT I DO.

>> FINALLY WE JUST HAD TO JUST

NARROW THE FOCUS AND SAY, "LET'S

JUST FOCUS ON VEGAS.

LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING

ELSE BUT YOU GOING TO LAS VEGAS

AND DOING THE BEST YOU CAN AND

MAKE THAT YOUR GOAL, AND THEN

EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FALL IN

PLACE."

>> HE LOVES GOING TO

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR.

I MEAN, HE LOOKS FORWARD TO

THAT.

PLUS, THIS IS THE LAST YEAR THAT

HE COULD COMPETE IN THE TEEN

COMPETITION AS A TEEN.

[boys singing

in native language]

? ?

>> I'M SIPHIWE FANGASE, AND I'M

FROM SAMORA MACHEL IN

PHILIPPI.

>> MY NAME IS NKUMBUZO.

NKUMBUZO NICHOLAS NKONYANA.

I'M COMING FROM

KHAYELITSHA, MAKAZA.

>> WHEN I PERFORM MAGIC, I'M

JUST ENJOYING MYSELF--

BEING MYSELF WHEN I PERFORM FOR

THE AUDIENCE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THEM

ENTERTAINED AND JUST

ENTERTAINING THEM.

SEVEN...

[all cheering]

>> YOU CAN SEE MANY YOUTH IN

STREETS, LIKE, GOING UP AND

DOWN.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND

AT THE END OF THEIR DAY, THEY,

LIKE, END UP, LIKE, GETTING

INTO TROUBLES BECAUSE THEY DON'T

HAVE ANYTHING TO DO AT THE END

OF THE DAY.

LIKE, MOST OF THEM, THEY ARE

INVOLVED IN DOING DRUGS AND

ALCOHOL.

I DECIDED THAT MAYBE MAGIC COULD

KEEP ME MAYBE AWAY FROM THESE

THINGS.

>> THE COLLEGE OF MAGIC BEGAN

BACK IN 1980, AND THAT'S

29 YEARS AGO NOW.

WE'RE A TRAINING ORGANIZATION,

WHERE WE TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE IN

THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE

PERFORMING ART OF MAGIC.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE

USING MAGIC TO TRANSFORM AND

EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> WHEN I COME TO THE COLLEGE,

I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO LEARN

SOMETHING, SOMETHING NEW,

SOMETHING AMAZING.

MOST OF THE TIME, I'M NOT AROUND

THE COMMUNITY OFF DOING BAD

THINGS.

I'M ALWAYS PRACTICING MY MAGIC.

I'M AT THE COLLEGE OF MAGIC.

>> THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF

SIEGFRIED AND ROY, WHO ARE

SPONSORS OF OUR ORGANIZATION,

AND THEIR FAN CLUB, THEY MAKE IT

POSSIBLE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

THEN TO TRAVEL TO LAS VEGAS TO

COMPETE IN THE WORLD TEEN

CONTEST.

>> SO WE WERE BOTH CALLED TO

REPRESENT SOUTH AFRICA OVERSEAS

IN LAS VEGAS.

>> SIPHIWE AND NKUMBUZO ARE

COMING FROM THE BACKGROUND THEY

DO FROM THE MARGINALIZED AREAS.

THIS TRIP OVERSEAS IS A TRIP OF

A LIFETIME.

IT'S A LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO FIRST OF ALL,

I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING

CONGRATULATIONS FOR TAKING THE

STEP TO DO THIS, GUYS.

WE KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.

BUT THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS.

SOME OF THE GREATEST NAMES IN

MAGIC HAVE BEGUN RIGHT HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO A

COMPETITION, IT'S ONLY AS STRONG

AS THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP.

BUT WHEN YOU GO TO

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR, YOU'RE

COMPETING AGAINST SOME OF THE

FINEST IN THE WORLD.

>> TO BE IN THIS COMPETITION

IS NOT AN EASY TASK.

IF IT WERE EASY, EVERYBODY WOULD

BE DOING IT, OKAY?

>> THE TEEN CONTEST OF

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR IS

UNIQUE, IN THAT A PANEL OF

EXPERT MAGICIANS SELECTS THE

TOP EIGHT PERFORMERS, AND THE

AUDIENCE GETS TO PICK THE ACT

THEY THOUGHT WAS THE TOP ACT

FROM THE SHOW.

THEY CIRCLE IT ON THEIR VOTING

CARD AND THEN TURN THAT IN AT

THE END OF THE PERFORMANCE.

SO PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING

SELECTS THE FIRST-, SECOND-, AND

THIRD-PLACE WINNERS.

>> OKAY.

ANYBODY NERVOUS?

AWESOME.

PERFECT.

>> CHANNEL THAT ENERGY.

>> TOMORROW MORNING YOUR

REHEARSAL BEGINS AT 6:00

IN THE BALLROOM.

>> YOU NEED TO PUT IN THE TIME

TO BE A SUCCESSFUL MAGICIAN.

YOU NEED TO PUT IN THE TIME OF,

YOU KNOW, PRACTICE AND STUDY

AND R&D AND THINKING ABOUT

WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND

PERFORMING.

>> IT'S LIKE A CRAZY DICHOTOMY,

BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING

INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT A LOT OF

THE TIME BUT MAKING IT LOOK

EFFORTLESS.

SO PEOPLE DON'T APPRECIATE IT

FOR, REALLY, HOW HARD AND

ARTISTIC IT IS.

SPLIT FANS TAKE YEARS TO LEARN.

CARD PRODUCTIONS, FLOURISHES

TAKE YEARS.

>> OKAY. UM...

HOW TO DO A SPLIT FAN...

YOU TAKE THE MIDDLE AND THE

THUMB...

LIKE THAT.

YOU GO, AND YOU CLOSE THE FAN

AND DROP THE CARDS, BUT WHAT

YOU'RE DOING HERE--SECRET MOVE

IS SOMETHING THAT LOOKS KIND OF

LIKE...

THAT.

>> THESE KIDS HAVE PUT IN AN

ENORMOUS NUMBER OF HOURS TO

CREATE THESE ACTS, AND THEY'RE

TEENAGERS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS

GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES.

SO, REALLY, IT REQUIRES A LOT OF

SACRIFICE.

[French horn playing]

? ?

>> THE DECISION...

THAT WE MADE AS A FAMILY THAT HE

WOULD TAKE THIS YEAR...

WELL, NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL,

NOT GOING BACK TO COLLEGE, WHICH

WAS PRETTY RADICAL WHEN YOU

CONSIDER HE HAD A MUSIC

SCHOLARSHIP TO A FAIRLY

REPUTABLE STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> I HAD A FRENCH HORN

SCHOLARSHIP TO NORTHEASTERN

ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

I HANDED IT BACK TO DO MAGIC.

AND INSTEAD OF, LIKE, READING

HISTORY AND, YOU KNOW, WRITING

ESSAYS AND DOING STATE EXAMS

AND THIS CRAP AND THAT CRAP,

I'M JUST GOING TO READ AND STUDY

MAGIC.

AND MY EXAMS ARE MY

COMPETITIONS.

>> HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT

HE MADE ALL HIS OWN ILLUSIONS.

SO FOR CHRISTMAS, HE ASKED FOR

SOME POWER TOOLS.

[tool whirring]

>> I HAD THIS VISION WHERE

I WOULD MAKE iPODS APPEAR AT MY

FINGERTIPS.

SO I SPENT A YEAR--ACTUALLY,

REALLY EIGHT MONTHS REALLY

HUNKERING DOWN AND MAKING THE

FIRST DRAFTS AND THEN FOUR

MONTHS TO POLISH 'EM OUT, AND

I'M STILL NOT DONE WITH THEM.

>> I'M USUALLY HIS GUINEA PIG.

>> YEAH.

>> ALWAYS.

>> HE WOULD BARE ALL TO MOM, BUT

BE VERY GUARDED AROUND ME AS

FAR AS WHAT HE WOULD SHOW ME,

AND HE WOULD NEVER PUT ON A SHOW

FOR ME.

IN MY PROFESSION, AS A

HIGH-SCHOOL-BAND DIRECTOR/

MUSICIAN, WE'RE FAULT-FINDERS.

OUR JOB IS TO CORRECT THINGS,

MAKE IT RIGHT.

THAT NOTE'S WRONG.

THAT RHYTHM'S WRONG.

THIS IS WRONG.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, PRAISE WHEN

YOU CAN, BUT MOST OF THE

REHEARSAL IS MAKING THINGS SOUND

BETTER BY FIXING PROBLEMS.

>> A GOAL IS A DREAM WITH A

DEADLINE.

AND SO MY DREAM WITH A DEADLINE

IS EXCELLENCE.

I'M DOING SOMETHING WITH

SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS

IS HARD TO MANAGE, HARD TO

WORK WITH.

IF I'M OFF BY ANY LITTLE BIT,

THE WHOLE ROOM SEES THAT

SOMETHING'S FLASHING BEHIND MY

HAND.

iPODS HAVE A REFLECTIVE SCREEN.

IF I'M OFF BY A LITTLE BIT, IT'S

GONNA REFLECT.

I TRY AND LET AS MANY PEOPLE AS

POSSIBLE KNOW THAT I MADE

EVERYTHING IN MY ACT.

AND THE REASON BEING IS IT TOOK

ME--I KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME

TO MAKE EVERYTHING, AND IF THEY

WANT TO GO THROUGH THE TROUBLE,

HAVE FUN.

I CAN'T TELL THEM WHERE TO GET

ANY OF MY STUFF, BECAUSE YOU

CAN'T GET ANY OF MY STUFF UNLESS

YOU MAKE MY STUFF.

THAT'S THE iPOD.

>> THIS IS FANTASTIC

CRAFTSMANSHIP.

I MEAN, I'M ACTUALLY JEALOUS

THAT HE MADE THESE.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO A

MANUFACTURER OR, YOU KNOW,

PEOPLE WHO MAKE iPODS TO DO

THIS.

HE MADE THIS.

>> LIKE, ON TUESDAYS, USUALLY,

HE WOULD GET TOGETHER WITH JOE.

AND THEY WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW,

FEED OFF OF ONE ANOTHER, LEARN

DIFFERENT THINGS, JUST DO MAGIC

ALL DAY LONG.

[exciting music plays]

? ?

>> I FLUBBED--I FLUBBED TWO

THINGS DURING THAT.

>> UM...

>> BUT...

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WELL,

SHIT HAPPENS.

NOTHING'S PERFECT.

I MEAN, THE WHOLE POINT OF ALL

THIS IS TO KNOW YOUR STUFF COLD.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT.

WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF COLD

WHEN SHIT GOES DOWN, YOU CAN--

YOU CAN WORK WITH IT.

EVERYTHING'S JUST, YOU KNOW,

RIGHT WHERE--RIGHT WHERE IT'S

SUPPOSED TO BE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT WON'T

GROW.

BUT I THINK TO CHANGE ANYTHING

RIGHT NOW FOR THE SAKE OF

CHANGING SOMETHING WOULD BE A

MISTAKE--A HUGE MISTAKE.

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> TWO...

AND ONE.

[speaking Japanese]

>> THE MAGIC CASTLE, YEAH, IS A

REALLY SPECIAL PLACE.

IT WAS THE FIRST SORT OF, YOU

KNOW, PRIVATE CLUB FOR

MAGICIANS.

>> WELL, THE CASTLE'S BEEN A

RESOURCE FOR ME IN A NUMBER OF

WAYS.

I MEAN, SO MANY PEOPLE GO

THROUGH THERE.

I MEAN, IT REALLY IS A MECCA,

JUST 'CAUSE EVERYONE'S THERE.

>> THE MAGIC CASTLE'S A PRIVATE

CLUB BY NATURE.

SO YOU CAN'T JUST CALL AND MAKE

A RESERVATION.

YOU HAVE TO EITHER BE A MEMBER

OR KNOW A MEMBER.

>> EVERYBODY WHO'S INTO MAGIC

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD I THINK

ALL WANT TO GET HERE ONE DAY.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO STEP

THROUGH THESE DOORS AND SAY,

"I'VE BEEN TO THE MAGIC CASTLE."

THAT'S HOW SPECIAL IT IS.

>> FOR MY 11TH BIRTHDAY, MY

PARENTS TOOK ME TO

THE MAGIC CASTLE.

AND JUST BY CHANCE, THE DIRECTOR

OF THE JUNIOR PROGRAM,

BOB DORIAN, WAS THERE.

>> MAGIC CASTLE JUNIOR GROUP IS

COMPOSED OF A VERY TALENTED

GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN

THE AGES OF 13 TO 20 WHO MEET

UP AT THE CASTLE ONCE A MONTH

AND WORK ON THEIR ACTS.

>> AND WE DECIDED TO SET THE BAR

A LITTLE BIT HIGHER WITH KIDS TO

MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET

IN, 'CAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO

TAKE THE BEST OF THE BEST.

KRYSTYN CAME INTO THE PROGRAM--

I THINK SHE WAS 12 OR 13 WHEN

SHE CAME IN THE PROGRAM.

THIS ABSOLUTELY DARLING, PRETTY

BLOND GIRL.

I SAW MYSELF IN HER.

>> I PERFORM THERE.

I WORKSHOP JUST ABOUT EVERY

MONTH AND DEFINITELY GIVE, YOU

KNOW, FEEDBACK AND AM VERY

ACTIVE, IN TERMS OF MY

PARTICIPATION WITH THE GROUP.

>> I KNOW THAT KRYSTYN AND IAN

ARE GONNA BE IN THE PALACE.

ANYONE ELSE IN THE PALACE?

[indistinct chatter]

>> THIS IS FOR THE NEW

TEN-MINUTE ACT OF MINE THAT WILL

GO TO COMPETITION, AND I'M

WORKING A COUPLE CONVENTIONS

IN THE SUMMER.

SO THIS IS THE MIDDLE PORTION.

>> LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE

TIME FOR KRYSTYN LAMBERT.

[cheers and applause]

[upbeat music plays]

? ?

[cheers and applause]

>> OUR GOAL IS TO TAKE KIDS THAT

COME IN AS HAPPY AMATEURS,

LOVING IT, AND PREPARE THEM TO

BE ABLE TO WORK IN A

PROFESSIONAL WORLD.

>> IF YOU WANT TO COMPETE IN

MAGIC, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE

LOOKING TO DO, THE MAGIC CASTLE

JUNIORS IS A FANTASTIC PLACE,

BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT ONLY ALL

THE KIDS LOOKING AND TELLING

YOU WHAT THEIR IDEAS ARE, BUT

THEN YOU GET THE ADVISORS THAT

ARE COMING IN WITH YEARS AND

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

>> IF YOU'RE COMPETING, THAT'S

MORE PRESS.

IF YOU WIN, THAT'S EVEN MORE

PRESS IN THE MAGIC COMMUNITY.

IF PEOPLE GOOGLE SEARCH YOUR

NAME, MORE RESULTS COME UP,

YOU KNOW.

[applause]

>> I STILL--'CAUSE I THINK I'VE

SAID THIS BEFORE--I STILL WOULD

LIKE TO SEE YOU DEVELOP MATERIAL

THAT IS NOT "CLASSIC"...

>> MM-HMM.

>> BECAUSE I THINK YOU COULD DO

SO MUCH MORE.

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE

OF YOU AND MORE PRONOUNCED MAGIC

MOMENTS THAN SO MANY MAGIC

MOMENTS THAT I JUST GET...

>> RIGHT.

>> ALL CONFUSED AS TO WHERE TO

LOOK, BECAUSE, ULTIMATELY, THIS

IS ABOUT YOU.

THE FACT THAT YOU CAN DO MAGIC,

YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT YOU CAN

MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THAT'S YOUR SINGING.

BUT, ULTIMATELY, IT'S ALL ABOUT

YOU.

[indistinct chatter]

YOU'RE DAMN STRAIGHT THAT'S WHY.

[both laughing]

>> [coughs]

NO.

IT'S TRUE.

>> WE'RE HEADING TO REINKE BROS.

THIS IS MY PLACE WHERE

I PRACTICE MY MAGIC.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

OKAY, OUT WE GO.

THANK YOU.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

[car horn honks]

>> WORKING IN THE MAGIC SHOP,

THAT'S--THAT'S WHAT'S VALUABLE

TO DEREK RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE HE

CAN MAKE MISTAKES AND LEARN FROM

IT AND CORRECT THEM.

DEREK'S GOING TO BE GOING TO

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR TO

COMPETE, AND HIS GOAL--I MEAN,

REALLY, HE WANTS TO BE ONE OF

THE FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRDS.

MY GOAL WOULD BE TO SEE HIM

NUMBER ONE, AND I BELIEVE IN

HIS HEART HE CAN DO IT.

>> HERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

>> YOU TOO.

>> I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE ACT

ALMOST EVERY NIGHT FOR--SINCE

OCTOBER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA

PROBABLY WORK ON TONIGHT.

>> HIS GOAL IS TO WIN.

AND SO RICH AND I'S JOB IS TO

HELP HIM.

>> SO WHERE DO WE WANT TO START?

YOU WANT TO DO--YOU WANT TO DO

YOUR BIT SINCE YOU'RE KIND OF

TIRED, GET IT OUT OF THE WAY,

AND WE CAN KIND OF CRITIQUE IT A

LITTLE?

>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE ACT TO

DO.

AND I WANT TO WORK ON IT TILL

I WIN SOMETHING.

AND IT'S NEVER GONNA BE DONE.

I'M STILL NOT HAPPY WITH IT, OF

COURSE, SO IT'S GONNA BE A WORK

IN PROGRESS TILL I DIE.

I WANT TO DO A MANIPULATION

ROUTINE WHICH I HAVE TAKEN OFF

AN IDEA I GOT FROM WILLY WONKA.

WILLY WONKA, WHEN I WAS A KID,

USED TO BE MY FAVORITE MOVIE

OF ALL TIME AND STILL IS.

AND WHEN I SAW THAT, I HEARD THE

SONG PURE IMAGINATION.

THAT'S WHERE I GOT THE WHOLE

ACT.

IT STARTS OUT WITH GENE WILDER

SINGING PURE IMAGINATION.

THEN IT KIND OF GOES INTO MAGI--

ALMOST AS IF WHAT HE DOES TO

CANDY I DO TO COINS AND BILLIARD

BALLS AND--THEY'RE NOT EDIBLE

UNFORTUNATELY.

AND IT KIND OF TELLS THE STORY

OF I WALK IN WITH NOTHING--

I MEAN, I WALK IN WITH VERY

LITTLE STUFF, AND I LEAVE

WITH...

A LOT OF STUFF.

IT'S THE STORY OF LIFE.

IT'S--YOU GET BORN INTO THIS

WORLD WITH NOTHING, AND THEN YOU

LEAVE WITH THE EXPLOSION, WHICH

IS THE END--THE END OF LIFE.

>> UM, THERE WAS SOME POINTS

WHERE DEREK WAS, UH...

NOT WORKING AS HARD AS I THINK

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> THIS IS A COMPETITION AGAINST

PROBABLY SOME OF THE BEST KIDS

IN THE WORLD.

AND YOU CAN'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY

IF YOU TRULY WANT TO WIN.

>> I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU.

YOUR STEALS LOOK LIKE...

YOU NEED TO WORK ON 'EM, BECAUSE

YOU DON'T NEED TO GO OUT ON THE

STAGE AND LOOK LIKE A FOOL.

MY INTENT WAS NOT TO MAKE HIM

CRY, BUT PLAYTIME'S OVER.

THIS IS WORK.

>> [speaking Japanese]

YEAH, LAST NIGHT I MADE THIS

MASK.

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> [speaking Japanese]

[indistinct chatter]

>> SIPHIWE AND NKUMBUZO ARE TWO

REMARKABLE AND ENTHUSIASTIC

YOUNG MEN.

THEY'RE ENTHUSIASTIC FOR THEIR

MAGIC.

THEY'RE VERY TALENTED.

BOTH HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A

NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

THEY'VE BEEN TRAINING,

ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF STAGE

MAGIC, WHICH THEY ENJOY SO MUCH.

SIPHIWE CAME UP WITH THE INITIAL

IDEA, AND HE WOULD HAVE STARTED

WORKING ON THAT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND NKUMBUZO JOINS SIPHIWE IN

THE ACT.

[vuvuzela sounding]

>> THE MAGIC FROM SOUTH AFRICA

EACH AND EVERY YEAR, IT'S LIKE

IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT COMES WITH A STORY.

>> SIPHIWE'S VERY KEEN ON HIS

SOCCER, AND WITH THE

2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER EVENT

COMING TO SOUTH AFRICA, WE

THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A CORE TEAM OF

ABOUT FIVE OR SIX OF OUR SENIOR

STAFF MEMBERS, AND WE GET

TOGETHER WITH THEM, AND WE

WORKSHOP THE ACT AND OBVIOUSLY

POLISH IT, SO WE NEED TO TAKE

IT TO THAT NEXT LEVEL IN

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

SO YOU'VE GOT THE MAGIC OF

SOCCER.

YOU'VE GOT THE ENERGY OF AFRICA.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM PERFORM,

THEY LITERALLY LIGHT UP THAT

STAGE.

[light applause]

>> ADVERTISING, YES...

BY TRUE MAGIC.

>> THEY WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD

IN DEVELOPING AN ACT WHICH

WOULD BE SELECTED TO BE ABLE

TO BE STAGED AT

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR IN

LAS VEGAS.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES

THE SEMINAR SO SPECIAL, IN THAT

YOU'RE GETTING THESE PERFORMERS

FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT PARTS

OF THE WORLD.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE AMERICAN

ACTS OR NOT JUST THE EUROPEAN

ACTS.

EVERYONE'S GETTING A TASTE OF

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ALL CORNERS

OF THE WORLD.

>> [giggles]

>> TODAY IS OUR FINAL

PERFORMANCE.

>> AND GUESS WHAT.

>> WE ARE SO HAPPY.

>> AND WE ARE GOING TO...

>> REPRESENT SOUTH A-FRI-CA!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

>> both: [singing]

? ?

[laughter]

>> I'M GONNA BRING OUT ALL THAT

I HAVE FOR VEGAS.

AND I-I WANT TO WORK HARD FOR

THE GOOD RESULTS TODAY.

NO, I'M READY.

I'M READY.

>> I'M FEELING PRETTY

JITTERY RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT, LIKE--I'M NOT NERVOUS.

BUT YOU CAN TELL I'VE GOT, LIKE,

MY TIC GOING HERE.

I'M EXCITED.

>> I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

>> IT'S LIKE HOT POTATO.

TO SAY THAT I'M NERVOUS IS A

COMPLETE UNDER--TO SAY I'M

NERVOUS IS LIKE SAYING PICASSO

DREW LINE PAINTINGS ON A NAPKIN.

>> [laughs]

I AM VERY NERVOUS.

>> VERY NERVOUS?

>> YES, BUT IT'S FUN.

>> YEAH?

>> YES.

>> I DON'T GET NERVOUS BEFORE

A SHOW.

I GET PREPARED.

BY JEFF MCBRIDE.

I LEARNED IT YESTERDAY.

>> HANDMADE.

YEAH.

>> OH, WOW.

DID YOU MAKE THOSE AS WELL?

>> YEAH.

>> HOW DO YOU GET IT TO STAY ON?

I WANT TO BE ASIAN WHEN I GROW

UP.

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> I'M NOT GONNA TAKE ANYTHING

FOR GRANTED.

I'M GONNA GO OUT THERE AND GIVE

IT 110%.

AND--HELL WITH IT, I'LL GIVE IT

120%.

[laughter]

>> NOW IT IS 8:00, AND I'M

GONNA GET READY AND GET PUMPED

AND PERFORM.

>> OH, I AM NERVOUS UP UNTIL THE

POINT THEY ANNOUNCE MY NAME.

I PACE. I SHAKE.

>> OUR HEARTS WERE RACING,

POUNDING, BECAUSE AT THAT

MOMENT THE CURTAINS OPEN, IT'S

TEN MINUTES OF THEIR

PERFORMANCE.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS

WE'VE BEEN INVESTED IN THEIR ACT

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS PRIOR TO

THAT.

[applause]

>> WELCOME TO THE TEEN MAGICIAN

CONTEST.

FROM LITTLETON, COLORADO IS

DEREK MCKEE.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE THE

HOMETOWN HERO WHO WINS THESE

BIG COMPETITIONS.

AND THAT'S MY GOAL--TO WIN

THE WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR.

[Pure Imagination]

? ?

ONSTAGE YOU CAN SHOW YOUR

GREATEST DREAMS.

I MEAN, IF I COULD REALLY DO

MAGIC, THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD LOOK

LIKE.

THAT'S WHAT MY WISH WOULD BE.

>> COUNT TO THREE.

? COME WITH ME... ?

>> THE MESSAGE TO MY MAGIC IS

THAT YOU CAN ESCAPE YOUR

EVERYDAY PROBLEMS IF YOU

BELIEVE.

>> ? AND YOU'LL SEE ?

? INTO YOUR IMAGINATION ?

? ?

>> HE'S DEVELOPED THE

DEREK MCKEE METHOD.

AND IT WORKS FOR HIM.

>> EVERYONE DOES MANIPULATION

WITH THEIR DOMINANT HAND.

TO DO IT WITH THEIR OTHER HAND,

IT'S A LOT HARDER.

THE DOUBLE SHELL--YOU DON'T SEE

IT TOO MUCH, 'CAUSE IT'S SUCH

A HARD MOVE.

IT'S AWESOME.

[applause]

>> WHAT MAKES A MAGICIAN GOOD

IS NOT HOW TECHNICALLY

PROFICIENT THEY ARE.

LIKE, IT'S AGAIN, LIKE, HOW MUCH

THEY CAN MAKE THE AUDIENCE CARE.

>> ? AND VIEW IT ?

? ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ?

? DO IT ?

? WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD ?

? THERE'S NOTHING TO IT ?

>> CARD MANIPULATIONS ARE

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE ONE

MISTAKE BETRAYS THE METHOD.

ONE FLASH BETRAYS THE METHOD,

BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY DEPENDENT

ON ANGLES, BLOCKING, LIKE, WHERE

YOU ARE IN RESPECT TO THE

AUDIENCE, AND IT'S VERY EASY TO

MESS UP.

>> AND THE IDEA IS TO MAKE--MAKE

IT LOOK EASY.

AND I THINK HE DOES.

>> ? LIVING THERE ?

? YOU'LL BE FREE ?

? IF YOU TRULY WISH TO BE ?

[cheers and applause]

>> DEREK MCKEE FROM LITTLETON,

COLORADO.

>> I'M SO EXCITED, I CAN'T GET

OVER IT.

I HAD TO TELL EVERYBODY, RIGHT?

I'M VERY PROUD OF HIM.

>> TO GET, LIKE, FIRST PRIZE OR

WIN, IT WILL BE LIKE A BONUS TO

ME, BECAUSE I'M HERE TO ENJOY

MYSELF.

>> WE GET VERY CONCERNED BEFORE

SHOWTIME, BECAUSE THEY GET VERY

FOCUSED, GET VERY INWARD, AND

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR ENERGY

LEVELS UP, AND THE MINUTE THAT

THOSE CURTAINS OPEN, THEY

SPRING OUT ONSTAGE, AND THEY

DELIVER SOMETHING WHICH YOU

CANNOT SEE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE

WORLD.

IT IS UNIQUELY SOUTH AFRICAN.

[siren wailing, horn blares]

[jazz bass line]

? ?

>> THEY'RE SO FUNNY...

THE SOCCER PERFORMERS.

I LOVE IT--SO FUNNY

AND REALLY ORIGINAL.

[laughter]

>> IT'S A BIG CELEBRATION OF

SOCCER, AND THAT--YOU KNOW, IT

ADDS TO IT.

>> THE GUYS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

ALWAYS MAKE ME NERVOUS.

[laughter]

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST

ENJOYABLE STAGE ACTS I'VE SEEN

IN A LONG TIME, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE

INTERACTION BETWEEN CHARACTERS,

AND THAT'S INTERESTING TO AN

AUDI--OR AT LEAST HUMOROUS.

[tires screeching]

>> THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF

MAGIC IN THE ROUTINE, BUT IT'S

VERY VISUAL.

IT'S VERY UPBEAT.

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT ENJOY

YOURSELF.

>> 'CAUSE THEY'RE ENTERTAINING,

NOT THE TRICKS.

>> YEAH.

[laughter]

>> I MEAN, IT WASN'T TECHNICALLY

PERFECT, BUT AGAIN THE AUDIENCE

DOESN'T CARE.

THEY'RE ON THEIR SIDE, AND

THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

>> AND IF YOU'RE AN EXPERIENCED

MAGICIAN, THE HARD THING IS

WHAT THEY HAD IN SPADES--

WAS, YOU KNOW, STAGE PRESENCE,

AND THE AUDIENCE REALLY LIKED

THEM.

[cheers and applause]

>> SIPHIWE AND NKUMBUZO.

>> THIS YEAR WAS MY YEAR TO

SIT DOWN AT THE POKER TABLE, PUT

ALL MY CHIPS IN, AND SAY, "GUYS,

THIS IS--THIS IS--I'M ALL-IN.

THIS IS IT FOR ME."

>> OUR NEXT PERFORMER, FROM

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, BILL KOCH.

[cheers and applause]

>> THIS GUY, YOU KNOW, HE HAS A

LOT OF ENERGY.

HE'S GOT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW,

CONFIDENCE MOVING AROUND THE

STAGE.

[applause]

>> YOU COULD TELL THAT HE REALLY

WORKED ON HIS STAGE MOVEMENT,

BECAUSE BEFORE, IT WAS JUST THIS

BIG GUY JUST KIND OF THUMPING

AROUND PRODUCING CDs.

AND NOW, YOU KNOW, HE HAD LITTLE

DANCES HERE AND THERE.

>> THAT'S WHO I AM.

I DON'T CARE IF I LOOK AWKWARD.

I'M AN AWKWARD DANCER.

I SAID EARLIER I CAN'T DANCE.

I CAN MOVE IN RHYTHM.

AND PEOPLE LAUGH BECAUSE I'M

GENUINELY HAVING A GOOD TIME

AT THAT POINT.

[upbeat music]

? ?

[applause]

I STARTED THIS ACT FRESHMAN

YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL AS JUST A

PIPE DREAM ONE DAY SITTING IN

MATH CLASS.

IT HAPPENED TO BE THE CDs

POPPED INTO MY HEAD, BECAUSE

I'M LIKE, "I'VE NEVER SEEN A

GOOD CD GUY," BEFORE I REALLY

STARTED TO RESEARCH IT.

"I'VE NEVER SEEN A GOOD CD GUY.

I COULD DO MAGIC WITH CDs."

>> YEAH, THEY'RE VERY AWKWARD

OBJECTS TO MANIPULATE.

CARDS ARE AT LEAST PLIABLE.

BILLIARD BALLS ARE ROUND AND

COMPACT.

BUT CDs ARE THESE STIFF--

>> AND THEY'RE SLIPPERY TOO.

>> TRYING TO HOLD THAT IN YOUR

HAND, GOOD LUCK.

[applause]

>> THE WHOLE iPOD-TO-CD THING IS

KIND OF--IS SYMBOLIC OF WHERE WE

ARE NOW.

PEOPLE STILL WANT TO BE IN THE

CD WORLD, BUT WE'RE MOVING

FORWARD.

I ACTUALLY MAPPED IT OUT THAT

WAY, THAT THIS IS WHAT ALL THIS

MEANS.

>> IT'S THE MILDEST LEVEL OF

INNOVATION.

IT'S LIKE, "I WANT TO DO A

MANIPULATION ACT.

OKAY, SO LET'S UPDATE IT.

OKAY, WELL, I CAN USE iPODS

INSTEAD OF BILLIARD BALLS."

>> SO, LIKE, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY

THE SAME THING WE SAW WITH

CARDS.

[applause]

[cheers and applause]

>> BILL KOCH.

>> I PERSONALLY HOPE BILL WINS.

HE HAS THE MOST ORIGINAL ACT,

TO ME, SO FAR.

I HOPE HE WINS.

>> I'VE NEVER BEEN CONFIDENT

ABOUT MY OWN WORK.

THAT WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER DONE

THAT ACT, SO...

[applause]

>> BECAUSE THIS IS NO LONGER

JUST ABOUT THE MAGIC, THIS IS

ABOUT THE OVERALL SHOW

PERFORMANCE AND THE OVERALL

QUALITY.

>> FROM MALIBU, CALIFORNIA,

KRYSTYN LAMBERT.

[upbeat music]

? ?

>> THE LINK--FLOATING LINKED

RINGS IS PROBABLY THE MOST

TECHNICALLY DIFFICULT THING SHE

DOES, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF

SKILL TO BE ABLE TO OPEN WITH

YOUR MOST TECHNICALLY DIFFICULT

THING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE

AUDIENCE IS JUDGING YOU, AND IF

YOU MESS UP YOUR OPENER, YOU

KNOW, THAT CAN SPOIL THE REST

OF THE SHOW, EVEN IF THE REST OF

IT GOES PERFECTLY.

[applause]

>> BILLIARD-BALL ROUTINES ARE

NOT EASY, AND THERE IS A

CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SKILL

INVOLVED.

>> JUST EVEN A COUPLE

MILLIMETERS, A LITTLE, YOU KNOW,

EIGHT OF AN INCH MAKES A HUGE

AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCE, AND THAT'S

SO DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, BUT,

I MEAN, SHE ALMOST NEVER MAKES A

MISTAKE.

[audience gasps]

[murmuring]

>> IN ANY MANIPULATION ACT, IN

ANY ONE MINUTE, THERE'S DOZENS

OF THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE

CHALLENGE OF DOING THAT TYPE

OF ACT IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE OUTS

FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN GO

WRONG, BUT INVARIABLY YOU CAN'T

THINK OF EVERYTHING, SO IT'S

ALWAYS THAT MOMENT ONSTAGE IN

FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE WHEN

SOMETHING GOES WRONG THAT YOU

NEVER THOUGHT OF, AND YOU'RE

GOING, "UH-OH, NOW WHAT DO

I DO?"

>> KRYSTYN LAMBERT.

[applause]

>> I DO NOT RECALL AT ALL ANY

TIME WHEN SOMETHING MESSED UP.

AND BELIEVE ME, THAT IS UNUSUAL.

>> UM, I'VE NEVER HAD...

[applause]

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> OUR NEXT ACT, FROM JAPAN,

HIROKI HARA.

[applause]

[upbeat music]

? ?

>> HE'S AMAZING.

I LIKE THAT ONE.

I LIKE THAT ONE, YEAH.

HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S AN ADULT,

BUT HE'S JUST A YOUNG MAGICIAN.

[laughter]

>> HIROKI DOES STUFF THAT YOU'RE

NOT EXPECTING TO SEE.

WHAT HE'S DOING HAS BEEN

IN BOOKS ALMOST AS A GAG THAT,

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS, BUT IT'S

EXTREMELY HARD.

THE CIRCULAR FAN.

THE CIRCULAR FAN--I WAS LIKE...

IT GAVE ME A HEADACHE FOR A

WHILE.

[applause]

>> IT'S NOT JUST HIS TECHNICAL

PROFICIENCY THAT HE CAN DO THESE

THINGS, BUT HOW FAST HE'S DOING

THEM.

I MEAN, HE'S POPPING OUT THOSE

FOUR-CARD STARS LIKE NOBODY'S

BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW, HE'S TURNING 'EM BACK

AND FORTH.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE POPPING OUT

EVERYWHERE.

AND HE GETS PROGRESSIVELY FASTER

AT IT.

>> AND TO MAGICIANS, I THINK

THEY CAN APPRECIATE IT, 'CAUSE

THEY DON'T EVEN KIND OF DELVE

INTO THAT BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S

SO HARD, AND THERE'S NO REASON

TO EVEN SCREW AROUND WITH THAT,

BUT HE'S DONE IT, AND HE DOES IT

VERY WELL.

[applause]

>> BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT

WOULD TRANSLATE TO LAYMEN.

ONLY A FEW PEOPLE IN THE

AUDIENCE CAN REALLY APPRECIATE

THE SKILL.

[applause]

[applause]

>> HIROKI HARA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> [laughs]

GREAT SHOW. GREAT SHOW.

>> WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD,

I FOUND ONE MAGIC BOOK AT A

SMALL BOOKSTORE, AND I READ...

ABOUT THE MAGIC CASTLE.

I SAW A PICTURE.

AND I CUT THE PICTURE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND I PUT ON THE...

>> ABOVE THE DRESSER?

>> YEAH.

>> OH, THAT'S VERY NICE.

>> I REALLY...

>> WELL, YOU DO--I LOVE THE

LOOK.

I LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

I THINK IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

COME HERE. COME HERE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT BEING SWEATY.

[laughter]

YOU'RE WORKING VERY HARD, AND

WE LOVE THAT.

AND YOU ARE SUCH A SHINING STAR.

>> YEAH, SHINY.

[laughter]

>> WELL, SHINY IN MORE WAYS THAN

ONE.

[laughter]

SO YOU GONNA GO TO COLLEGE HERE

MAYBE, THEN?

>> MM, MAYBE I WILL GO TO

COLLEGE.

MAYBE ENGLISH SCHOOL IN THE

UNITED STATES.

>> YEAH?

THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC IF YOU

COULD DO--SO WHO'S PERFORMING

OVER THERE NOW?

WHO ARE SOME OF THE MAGICIANS IN

JAPAN THAT ARE REALLY POPULAR?

>> MY FAVORITE MAGICIAN?

>> UH-HUH.

>> MY FAVORITE MAGICIAN IN JAPAN

IS MAHKA TENDO.

>> HIROKI HARA.

>> NOW, THE YAMAGAMI BROTHERS--

THEY WERE SO ADORABLE.

THEIR STRUCTURE AND THEIR

STAGING WAS SO GOOD.

MOST OF THE TIME, IT WAS VERY

SOPHISTICATED.

I WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSED.

>> BILL KOCH.

>> AND HE'S SO DARN COMFORTABLE

UP THERE.

>> YEAH.

ERIC GILLIAM...

THE ORANGE ACT WHERE EVERYTHING

TURNS ORANGE.

WHICH WAS A VERY--HIS SKILL WAS

GOOD, BUT THE CONCEPT WAS GREAT.

AND NOW HIS SKILL IS IMPROVING.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THE OTHER FELLOW WHO

CREATIVELY WAS INTERESTING WAS

NAREK.

IF YOU LOOKED AT SOME OF THE

STUFF HE DID, IT WAS A VERY

INTERESTING STEAL THAT HE DID

WITH THAT CANDLE.

>> THE TWO BOYS FROM

SOUTH AFRICA, THEY HAD A REALLY

GOOD IDEA.

THEY WERE EXTREMELY LIKEABLE.

THEY--BUBBLY PERSONALITIES,

WARM.

THE AUDIENCE RESPONDED TO THEM

IN A BIG WAY.

>> I THINK SO TOO.

>> RIGHT...

>> SO THESE ARE THE FINALISTS.

[applause]

LET'S GIVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL

PERFORMERS A GREAT ROUND OF

APPLAUSE.

[cheers and applause]

MARK YOUR BALLOTS AND THEN HAND

IT IN AS YOU EXIT THE THEATER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> OH, GREAT JOB, MAN.

>> [coughing]

>> GREAT JOB.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> IF I COULD DO WHAT HE COULD

DO, I WOULD BE, LIKE, IN HEAVEN.

>> SHAMELESS PLUG--

KRYSTYN LAMBERT,

MASTERS OF ILLUSION, MONDAY

NIGHTS...

>> DO IT AGAIN.

>> EVERYTHING IN THAT FINALS

PERFORMANCE WENT SEAMLESS.

AND IT WAS THE PERFORMANCE

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

>> WE ONLY HAVE TWO HOURS TILL

WE FIGURE OUT WHO WINS

EVERYTHING.

>> JEFF MCBRIDE PULLED ME TO THE

SIDE AND SAID, "IT'S DOWN TO

SINGLE VOTES."

I'M LIKE, "OH, DEAR GOD.

THIS IS INTENSE."

[applause]

>> LET'S GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO

MR. NICK SAINT-ERNE AND A GUY

NAMED LANCE BURTON.

HERE THEY ARE.

[cheers and applause]

>> ONE OF THE WAYS OF

ENCOURAGING THE NEW, YOUNG

TALENT IS WE HAVE THE

SARMOTI LEGACY AWARD FOR

ARTISTIC CREATIVITY.

SO THIS IS A SPECIAL AWARD TO

ONE OF THE CONTESTANTS.

AND IT IS TO SIPHIWE AND

NKUMBUZO FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

[cheers and applause]

>> NICE JOB, GUYS.

>> GREAT JOB.

>> WE GO THIRD, SECOND, FIRST.

>> NOW FOR THE LANCE BURTON TEEN

MAGICIAN CONTEST--STAGE CONTEST

THIS YEAR--TEEN MAGICIAN STAGE

CONTEST THIRD-PLACE WINNER IS...

>> THE YAMAGAMI BROTHERS.

[cheers and applause]

>> GOOD JOB, GUYS.

>> THE 2009 TEEN MAGICIAN STAGE

CONTEST SECOND-PLACE WINNER

IS...

>> BILL KOCH.

[cheers and applause]

>> OKAY, STAND BY FOR FIRST

PLACE, GUYS.

>> BILL!

[laughter]

>> OKAY.

>> THE LANCE BURTON 2009 TEEN

MAGICIAN STAGE CONTEST

FIRST-PLACE WINNER--THE LANCE

BURTON AWARD CHAMPIONSHIP GOES

TO...

>> HARA HIROKI.

[cheers and applause]

>> [speaking Japanese]

>> WHICH ONE OF US REALLY KNEW

WHO WE WERE AS A TEENAGER?

THAT'S PART OF BEING A TEENAGER,

IS GOING FROM BEING A CHILD TO

BEING AN ADULT AND TRYING TO

FIGURE OUT WHO YOU ARE AND

WHERE YOUR PLACE IS IN THE

WORLD.

>> AND THIS IS JUST A METAPHOR

FOR LIFE.

WHAT HAPPENED ONSTAGE--STUFF IS

GONNA GO WRONG.

IT'S HOW WE HANDLE IT.

MAGIC TEACHES US HOW TO BE

RESILIENT.

IT TRANSFORMS GRAVITY THAT HOLDS

US DOWN INTO LEVITY AND HUMOR

AND LIFTS US UP.

MAGIC IS A KEY THAT UNLOCKS

PEOPLE'S PERSONALITIES.

IT FORCES YOU TO PARTICIPATE

IN LIFE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAY

TO THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, IS THAT--

"LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM.

IF YOU STAY IN MAGIC, THESE ARE

GONNA BE YOUR FRIENDS FOR THE

REST OF YOUR LIFE."

>> [stammering] WHEN I FINISH

UP TO MY STUDIES, I WOULD LIKE

TO CONTINUE ON DOING MAGIC, TO

HAVE MY OWN THEATER SHOW, TO

HAVE MY OWN STAGE THAT I WOULD

BE OWNED AND THEN PERFORM THE

SHOW EACH AND EVERY WEEKDAY.

YES, THAT IS MY DREAM--

ME AND NKUMBUZO ON THE STAGE

HERE.

YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

THERE IS NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE,

BECAUSE IF YOU WORK HARD FOR

SOMETHING, YOU WILL GET THE

GOOD REWARD FOR THAT AT THE

END OF THE DAY.

>> [singing in native language]

? ?

>> [playing Fur Elise on piano]

? ?

>> OF COURSE HE WANTED TO WIN,

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

BUT HE ACCEPTED THAT HE CAME IN

SECOND.

HE WAS PROUD TO SAY THAT HE CAME

IN FIRST AS THE ONLY AMERICAN

THAT WON SOMETHING.

IT STUNG A LITTLE BIT.

>> I THINK IF I HAD WON FIRST

PLACE INSTEAD OF SECOND, I'D

ACTUALLY GOTTEN COVERAGE,

'CAUSE THEY--I DON'T THINK

PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE GUY THAT

WINS SECOND.

THEY WANT TO SEE THE GUY

CARRYING THE GOLD MEDAL, THE

TROPHY, EVEN, HELL, THE

CERTIFICATE THAT SAID THAT HE

WON FIRST.

>> OOH, THAT'S THE MAGIC-TRICK

GUY.

>> IT'S THE MAGIC-TRICK GUY.

SO THIS BATON--I GOT FOR MY DAD

AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

I'M GONNA WIND UP USING IT

TODAY, SO...

>> UM, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,

BILL KOCH CONDUCTING

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

[applause]

? ?

>> I MADE MY PARENTS CRY TODAY.

AND MY MOM WAS GETTING CHOKED

UP, AND MY DAD WAS GETTING

CHOKED UP, AND...

I KNOW I MAKE 'EM PROUD.

[applause]

THANK YOU, GUYS.

>> RIGHT NOW SHE'S PROBABLY

BEEN THE MOST RELAXED I'VE SEEN

HER IN MEMORY.

WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR WAS GOOD,

BECAUSE I THINK IN THE PAST,

SHE WOULD LOOK AT PLACEMENT AS

A REFLECTION ON HOW IT REALLY

WENT.

SHE DROPS A BILLIARD BALL, IF

SHE SLIPS, SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY.

>> KRYSTYN M. LAMBERT.

[cheers and applause]

>> I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO

GOING INTO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE

I'M NOT PIGEONHOLED, WHERE,

YOU KNOW, I HAVE MORE OF A GRIP

OF WHO I AM.

>> I DON'T--NONE OF MY FAMILY

HAS WHAT HE HAS, JUST TO BE SO

ALIVE AND TO BE SO--SUCH A

PASSION ABOUT SOMETHING.

AND IT JUST SHOWS.

AND TO KNOW THAT ALL THAT HE'D

WORKED FOR, WHAT I'D SEEN HIM

GO THROUGH, AND HOW MUCH HE'D

WORKED WITH MATTHEW AND RICHARD,

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IT MEANT

TO HIM TO SEE HIM UP THERE AND

DO A GOOD JOB IS JUST A

WONDERFUL THING.

>> HE'S GONNA BE SOMEBODY.

IN FACT, HE ALREADY IS SOMEBODY,

BECAUSE HE HAS MADE HIS

PRESENCE KNOWN TO PEOPLE FROM

AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THEY HAVE FELT HIM AND MADE

A LASTING FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM

AS WELL.

AND THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDS.

>> THESE ARE HIROKI HARA'S

MANIPULATION CARDS, A GIFT

FROM HIM TO ME.

ALWAYS PRACTICING.

I WILL GET IT.

HIROKI HARA--I THINK I STILL

HAVE HIROKI'S BUSINESS CARD IN

MY BACK POCKET.

HANG ON.

YEP.

>> DEREK WANTS TO BE ASIAN WHEN

HE GROWS UP.

>> DEREK.

YEAH.

[speaking Japanese]

>> WHAT IS THAT?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE...

>> TO CLOSE OUR SHOW THIS YEAR,

WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST

STAR.

HE WAS THE WINNER OF THE TEEN

AWARD AT THIS YEAR'S

WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR IN

LAS VEGAS--A VERY PRESTIGIOUS

MAGIC GET-TOGETHER HELD IN

LAS VEGAS EVERY YEAR.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AGAIN, IN

HIS PREMIERE PERFORMANCE AT THE

MAGIC CASTLE, PLEASE WELCOME

HARA HIROKI.

>> HIROKI HARA, LADIES AND

GENTLEMEN.

HIROKI HARA.